Shetland SaxaVord Spaceport Set for First Launch from July

The UK is set to take a major step in spaceflight, as SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland prepares for satellite launches from July. Located on the island of Unst — the northernmost point in the UK — the spaceport is expected to become a key site for commercial rocket launches.

Industry leaders shared updates with MPs, highlighting the growing competition for small satellite launches and the role SaxaVord could play in the global market.

RFA Leads the Way Despite Setback

German company Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is currently at the forefront of launch preparations. It was granted a UK spaceflight licence last month and is moving ahead with plans for its first mission from SaxaVord.

However, the company faced a setback last August when a rocket engine exploded during a test at the spaceport. Fortunately, no one was injured, and RFA confirmed that the launch pad was “saved and is secured”.

Jorn Spurmann, RFA’s chief commercial officer, remained optimistic, calling the event a “big and wonderful image” that led to “a lot of learning”.

Orbex Moves Its First Launch to SaxaVord

Scottish aerospace firm Orbex has also decided to use SaxaVord for its first rocket launch. Originally set to take place at Sutherland Spaceport, the mission was relocated to Shetland, with the company now aiming to launch its “Prime” rocket towards the end of this year.

While this decision disappointed some Highland politicians — who had supported the Sutherland site —Orbex CEO Phil Chambers insisted it was purely a commercial move. Completing work at Sutherland would have cost £15 million, and the company had not raised as much investment as hoped.

However, Chambers did not rule out a future return to Sutherland, stating:

“We have a new plan now, which is to do the first 10 launches a year from SaxaVord and then look for the additional capacity in Sutherland.”

The UK’s Growing Role in Spaceflight

During a hearing with Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee, space industry leaders discussed the UK’s ambitions in the small satellite launch market.

Scott Hammond, SaxaVord’s deputy chief executive, confirmed that preparations are well underway, including work on an integration hangar where rockets will be assembled with satellites.

He told MPs:

“Our aim is to have all of that done by 1 July. After which, the second part of the year, we are now ready for launch.”

Hammond compared SaxaVord to Cape Canaveral, the iconic US launch site, but acknowledged competition from Norway’s Andoya Spaceport.

Calls for Government Support and Less Reliance on SpaceX

When asked whether SaxaVord needed additional government funding, Hammond responded:

“Yes and no, we would quite happily take it, if we don’t get it we will have to go out and get extra money and work very hard.”

He also urged the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to explore alternatives to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, warning that the US military had already booked most American launches until 2030.

“If we want to get UK satellites up there, we’re going to have to find another way of doing it,” he said.

Skyrora Plans Suborbital Launch Despite Delays

Another company, Skyrora, is also targeting a launch from SaxaVord this year. However, Alan Thompson, the firm’s head of government affairs, voiced frustrations over regulatory delays from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Due to these setbacks, Skyrora opted to conduct its first test launch in Iceland, with Thompson stating:

“We got tired of waiting.”

A New Era for UK Spaceflight

With SaxaVord nearing completion, the UK’s space sector is poised for a breakthrough. The coming months will be crucial, as companies push forward with their launch plans and seek to establish the UK as a major player in satellite deployment.